The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-12
THE CONVICT CAMP.
What an Eek -Convict has to Say about the
Penttentiarv.

What an Ex-Convict has to Say about the
Penitentiarv.
Yesterday we had a call from NJ. c.
Hale, who has recently been pardoned
out of the State Penitentiary. About
sixteen months ago he was convicted in
Orange County ON a charge of assault
with intent to murder, and was SEN
fenced to the penitentiary for two years.
He SAYS he has received the kindest
treatment from the lessees of the con-
victs, and asked us to publish the fol-
lowing statement, written by him yester-
day, which we gladly give space. The
following is what he has to say:
PALATKA, May IL, 1887
Thinking that it would be of some in
terest to your readers and the public
generally, to read true statement of
facts in regard to the management of the
State Prison of Florida, the treatment of
the inmates, etc, /, as an ex-convlct,
will endeavor to put all before the public
Just as know it to be.
In the first place the prisoners are con-
tracted for by c. X. Dutton, who EN-
ploys them on a vast turpentine farm,
where he gathers and manufactures the
crude gum into rosin and spirits of tur-
pentine. This requires great deal of
labor and, though there are more prison
ers than it would take to do the work in
the Penitentiary, still they are not over
run with able-bodied men.
Many think that these men are over
1 lint 10. In no I'm
ting season the men are tasked accord
ing to their ability, and this task is set
by a man of whom will speak further
in this article, who knows what a man
can do. For instance. some men have
115 boxes per day, and others will have
only 40, and they will finish their task
about the same time. In the chipping
season they are divided into squads, and
each squad is given so many boxes or
crops to chip per week. They in fair
weather almost invariably get through
their task by 10 o'clock on Friday. Some
few of the squads do not finish before
Friday night, thus giving them two
days rest in each week.
The food that these men are fed Is am
pie. Good bread, bacon, peas and mo-
lasses, and often vegetables and fresh
meat. They are, a rule, healthy and
have good and constant medical atten-
ton. and divine service each alternate
Sunday. To illustrate the health of the
prison l will say that for the last sixteen
: months l have built all the collins and
for the 300 or more prisoners l have had
, to build only thirteen collins in that
time, and now il has been four months
, since a man has died.
But l must say that all, or the most al
, this, is due to the management of Capt
w. l. Hillman who is a fine judge of hui
man nature and Christian gentleman
Never under any circumstances will ht
, administer in any way any punishment
!, unless he knows that the subject de
serves it. The prisoners love and re-
spect him and should he he removed
there would be great revolt. Though
all the officers are men well fitted fol
their respective places, still the convict:
look to Hillman as their natural protec
tor. and he surely is, as all will con
I. cede that he is the best man i'm the Stat,
for the place. What / say here is Tvs
as it is, and if anybody knows / should
: as have been there.
! Respectfully, Nj. C.. HALE.